Monday, August 15, 2011

Happy Birthday, Woodstock

On this date in 1969, nearly half a million people descended on Max Yasgur's dairy farm for the concert that became a defining moment for a generation.

100,000 tickets were sold to the event, but tickets quickly became irrelevant - it was impossible to stem the tide of spectators who had come to be a part of the happening. Roads to the farm became so clogged that the performers had to be flown in by helicoptor. And what a list of performers it was: Santana, The Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, The Who, Joan Baez, Sly & the Family Stone, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, to name just a few. And on the morning of August 18th, the fraction of the crowd who had outlasted the rain, the mud, the food shortages, and the sanitation issues witnessed the finale, a two hour set by Jimi Hendrix that included this electrifying version of the Star Spangled Banner:

If you'd like to learn more about this pivotal moment in music history (Or, if you were there, and need some - ahem - memory reconstruction) we have a couple of resources for you. Come check them out, and celebrate three (plus) days of Peace & Music.